Merkendorf was first mentioned as early as 1324. The church, which is worth seeing, determines the appearance of the village. The baroque hall church, consecrated in 1772, resembles the church in Göhren-Döhlen in its ground plan and structure. The nave has a three-sided end in the west and a rectangular indented choir, above which the choir tower rises. The top floor of the tower has sound arcades and the dials of the tower clock above. The belfry for the bronze bells had to be newly made. The tower is covered with a bulbous hood, on which sits an open lantern with a spire. All the roofs are slate-covered. The interior is provided with galleries.

The church furnishings date from the time of construction. Only the carved wooden altar dates from the 15th century. The organ with nine stops, distributed on one manual and one pedal, was built in 1825 by Johann Gottlieb Schlegel.

Since 2011 Merkendorf belongs to the town of Zeulenroda-Triebes.